This chapter shall be known as the "Zoning Code for the Town of Dewey Beach."

This chapter shall apply to the Town of Dewey Beach.

The zoning regulations and districts as herein established are designed to promote the health, safety, morals, convenience, order, prosperity and general welfare of the present and future inhabitants of the Town of Dewey Beach, Delaware. These interests may be promoted by restricting the height, number of stories and size of buildings and other structures; the percentage of lot area that may be occupied; the size of yards, courts, and open spaces; the density of development; and the location, use and extent of use of buildings, structures, and land for residential, trade, industry and other purposes by creating districts for said purposes and by establishing boundaries for such districts; by providing for a Board of Adjustment, and by imposing penalties for the violation of the Zoning Ordinance. This chapter is adopted to lessen congestion in the streets, to secure safety from fire, panic and other dangers, to promote health and the general welfare, to provide adequate light and air, to prevent the overcrowding of land, to avoid undue concentration of population, and to facilitate the adequate provision of transportation, water, sanitation, sewerage, schools, parks, recreation and other public requirements. Such regulations shall be made with reasonable consideration as to the character of each zoning district and its suitability for particular uses with a view to conserving the value of buildings and encouraging the most appropriate use of land throughout the Town.

The enabling legislation for this chapter is an authorization by the Delaware General Assembly. Delaware Code Title 22, Section 301, permits the legislative bodies of incorporated towns to regulate such matters as the height, number of stories and size of buildings and other structures, percentage of lot that may be occupied, the size of yards, courts and other spaces, the density of population, and the location and the use of land for trade, industry, residence or other purposes.